Yesterday most of the questions directed to RA President Serzh Sargsyan at the PACE mostly related to the events of March 1 of 2008 and the NKR conflict.
26 delegates were lined to ask questions but a few of them had the opportunity to ask questions. By the way, none of the lined 5 Azeri MPs had the opportunity to ask questions to Serzh Sargyan despite the predictions that the Turkish chair of the PACE Chavusoglu would give preference to Azeris. Instead a member of the Armenian delegation Zaruhi Postanjyan had the opportunity to ask a question to Sargsyan. Let us just remember the regulation of the PACE, according to which one hour was allotted for the speech of Sargsyan and the questions (30 seconds per question) asked afterwards.
About March 1 events
“The investigation is not over for a simple reason, because all the perpetrators have not been revealed. As to why they have not been revealed yet, it has big and fundamental reasons, I think they are understandable to many. As to the professional skills of our experts, like in all countries, in Armenia there are good, mediocre and bad specialists. We have involved our best experts in the investigation of these cases and much work has been done,” said Serzh Sargsyan as a response to the question of one of the PACE delegates regarding the events of March 1. He noted that they had asked for help, and the only person willing to help was the Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg who invited an expert to Armenia. Serzh Sargsyan stated that he has recently instructed the investigative body to “deal with the case more thoroughly, in a more principled and detailed way”. “I hope the investigation will use all its possibilities to reveal all the crimes,” stated Serzh Sargsyan. "The Prosecutor’s Office will issue an interim report in the fall even if the clashes are not disclosed by then," he said adding that the investigators are working transparently and report on their activity twice a month. As a response to the Moldovan delegate Girgor Petrenko’s question, which read, “people remember that when you were being elected people were killed? Was anybody punished?” Sargsyan said, “Not only one culprit but four were arrested. "The Prosecutor’s Office will issue an interim report in the fall even if the clashes are not disclosed by then," he said adding that the investigators are working transparently and report on their activity twice a month.”
About NKR conflict
When responding to the question of the Russian delegate of PACE Valeri Parfyonov about the planned meeting in Kazan Serzh Sargsyan said that it is hard to say for sure that the meeting on June 25 in Kazan will bring a positive result but the OSCE Minsk Group format is the best for the current negotiation process. We accept the Basic Principles in one way, Azerbaijan in another, said Serzh Sargsyan in answer to a question of a PACE member on June 22. “Armenia has always accepted the principle of territorial integrity. This is the reason why the government of Armenia has never presented territorial claims to Azerbaijan or any other country. This is the reason why Armenia has not recognized Karabakh so far,” said Serzh Sargsyan. He noted that Armenia understands the principle of self-determination of peoples. “On this, the Azerbaijanis have other opinions. They think otherwise and say they accept this principle only if NK people self-determinate within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We say this is a partial self-determination,” said Serzh Sargsyan, adding that self-determination implies that people have the right to freely decide their destiny. Serzh Sargsyan noted that any country accepts the Principles of Madrid and the country which does not accept them does not want the issue to be settled. Serzh Sargsyan stated that Armenia attaches importance to the progress in the Karabakh issue settlement. “We speak the language of compromise to settle the issue but we appear to have to make concessions to a country which doesn’t miss a chance to shoot at us,” said Serzh Sargsyan, referring to the militaristic statements of Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, according to Serzh Sargsyan, even under such conditions, Armenia, underscoring peace in the region for upcoming generations, expects some progress in Kazan. “The original right to free and secure life of the Karabakh people to live their life in their land must not be under doubt,” Serzh Sargsyan said. He said that the Council of Europe should be guided by no harm to the peace process. He said that the CoE should also be helpful to the process. Serzh Sargsyan noted that Karabakh has always been part of Europe. Serzh Sargsyan asked whether they realize that Nagorno Karabakh is part of Europe and the people of Karabakh are part of the European nation, whether it is not time for the CoE to cooperate with the people of Karabakh with European values, to have the representatives of Karabakh sit at the table of negotiations over Karabakh. Addressing the PACE session, the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan dwelt on the Armenian and Turkish normalization process. He stated that he cannot say when there will be another possibility to resume the process and move forward after the disappointment of the parties in the process. Serzh Sargsyan underlined Turkey’s negation of the genocide. Sargsyan stated that Armenia will direct its efforts to the international recognition of the genocide. He said Armenia is nonetheless ready to solve the problems existing between the two countries not to pass them on to the next generations. “Europe mustn’t tolerate new lines of demarcation. The Council of Europe should serve as a new political platform for pan-European debates for the future of Europe,” said Serzh Sargsyan at the end of his speech. He said Armenia has always prepared its nation for peace, while Azerbaijan to war. According to Serzh Sargsyan, in dealing with peace, Armenia has an advantage but “God forbid, hostilities are resumed, Azerbaijan will have an advantage because it has prepared its people for war for twenty years”. This is a really sensational statement, considering that it is made by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the country. “It would be very good if Azerbaijan and Armenia spent their resources on the development of their countries instead of resolution of the conflict by military means,” said Sargsyan.
On the issue of the PACE subcommittee on the NKR Issue
The Subcommittee on the NK Issue does not have an opportunity to be aware of the previous rounds of the negotiation process and cannot make helpful decisions, RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated today after his speech at the PACE plenary session in response to a query on Armenian’s stance towards the Subcommittee. "I agree with the opinion that without the Armenian delegation’s participation, the subcommittee’s activity is aimless and impossible in the reality. This should have been taken into account by the Bureau when it was making a decision on establishing a subcommittee, or, as we say, revitalizing the subcommittee’s activity without taking into account the Armenian delegation’s opinion. We do not understand what expectations does the Assembly have from the subcommittee? We think the Assembly has a great role in ensuring peace and stability in our region. And here it is too important to start from steps, which do not harm the process. I am sure that in case the Assembly manages to exclude the mutual charges of the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations at least inside its walls, I think it will have a great and positive impact on the settlement of the issue, and generally on the formation of an atmosphere of dialogue in the region. This is our position. What serious issue is the Subcommittee to discuss with regard to the NK issue? The European establishments committed the settlement of the issue to the OSCE, and I do not see a more reliable format. So, I think the Subcommittee’s activity will not be efficient, and I fully support our delegation’s opinion," the RA president stated.
About extraordinary elections
Zaruhi Postanjyan was one of those PACE members who asked Serzh Sargsyan a question after his speech at the PACE session. She said an authoritarian regime is established in Armenia and asked if Serzh Sargsyan doesn’t want to launch reforms and leave. “Honorable Mr. President, although you mentioned that there is certain progress in Armenia I am sure that the elections in Armenia have been falsified since 1995. Aren’t you going to tender your resignation and hold early elections in Armenia? Let us not forget that all authoritarian systems collapse one day.” As a response Sargsyan said, “I have no doubt we have different opinions on this issue since I know your opinion that you freely express in Armenia, in the Parliament, and why not, also in streets. But I don’t share it. I think those who make evaluations should have the necessary will to listen to others, like we listen to our opposition and partners.” He added that he has learnt the opinions of top European officials and he is glad they don’t share Zaruhi Postanjyan’s opinion. Serzh Sargsyan stated reforms are underway in Armenia and the government has called on the opposition to participate in this process. “No, I am not going to hold snap elections in Armenia. Because they are not necessary, and our Constitution does not give us the possibility to hold snap elections so easily,” said Serzh Sargsyan. He called on Zaruhi Postanjyan to engage actively in the reforms’ process and in the next elections. He said there is some mistrust toward elections in Armenia, and “free and legal elections are not enough, it is necessary that the society accept and trust the results of the elections.” He also added, “I am very glad that Armenia is undergoing an intensive reform process. We have numerously asked everyone to participate in those reforms – bring up their expertise, criticism and concrete and constructive recommendations. No, I am not going to hold by-elections because we don’t see the necessity of that and neither does our constitution allow us to do so.” He called on Zaruhi Postanjyan to engage actively in the reforms’ process and in the next elections. He said there is some mistrust toward elections in Armenia, and “free and legal elections are not enough, it is necessary that the society accept and trust the results of the elections”.
About NPP
One of the members asked him about the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant of Armenia, about its future and security. Serzh Sargsyan stated that the issue of security of the Armenian NPP is open to the international community. “Having a power plant is our conviction,” said Serzh Sargsyan, noting that when our neighbors impose a blockade on Armenia and isolate it from energy projects while they use the immense profits from such programs to threaten Armenia, Armenia has to rely on nuclear energy to ensure its energy security. “Two weeks ago the delegation of MAGATE was in Armenia and they had given a positive assessment in regard of Armenia’s efforts to provide security for the power plant,” said Sargsyan.